Suggestions on getting a "cheap" DB (as novelty item)

[Gear_Junky]

Ok, here's the deal: this is NOT for serious playing, certainly not for bowing. We are a hobby band (a group of friends playing for friends every now and then). We aren't that great - just good enough to entertain friends. And so we use every visual gimmick we can

Music is along the lines of classic rock, rockabilly and blues.

Last year we rented a student model DB for a couple of the songs (I made a cheap piezo pickup for it). Our bassist (bass guitar player) used to play cello, so he can pull off some lines and be in tune without being too technical. It was great fun.

Renting every time is not that practical and also doesn't allow enough time to practice. I was thinking of buying something used and cheap (and that way we could also custom-paint it).

Is there a way to get an "amateur" bass for cheap ($300 maybe?) considering our very low demands? It would have to be in tune and be playable, but that's about it.

As a guitar/bass player I am used to the budget offerings, such as from Rondo music, is there something similar for DB? Thanks!

[Jsn]

Just to be clear: you want a cheap prop that you can paint and such, but you also want to rehearse on it and make real music? With all due respect, those are contradictory goals.

If you want a cheap BSO (bass shaped object), go to EBay and knock yourself out. But don't expect it to sound like much, or last last too long, or add up to much more than a strain on your bassist's fingers. "In tune" and "playable" is hardly in the realm of a $1200 (retail) bass, much less a $300 one. Heck, we don't blink at paying $200 for a set of strings.

"Cheap" double basses aren't like cheap guitars. Because of the dimensions and stresses involved (our strings aren't really strings, but cables!) the compromises in the sake of economy produce something really, really awful. They're also not manufactured on a large scale, so there are no economies of volume. Even the beginner ones are still expensive, by the standards of other instruments. It's not snobbery that makes us pay what we pay; it's inherent to the instrument.

Also, please forgive us if we don't warm to the prospect of even a student bass being painted and treated like a prop. To be frank, it kind of rubs against the grain of this forum. Not to be brusque, just asking for your understanding.

[Gear_Junky]

Ok, I appreciate the honest opinions - they are helpful, even if it's not what I want to hear. I guess I shouldn't have said a "prop" - it's a visual, to be sure, but the sound is a goal too. I realize now that it would be hard. The bass we rented cost $60 for the month and was quite acceptable. I'm sure it wasn't a $300 bass, possibly a $1K+

I just thought maybe there's a place to get a "b stock" or something like that.

As to painting it... what about all the rockabilly acts that had their basses painted?

P.S. I never implied "snobbery" - I realize that DB is a serious classical instrument with its own manufacture challenges. And I can understand that classical players might cringe at it's less refined applications (rockabilly, bluegrass), but then again, all of these classical instruments came out of folk instruments (except piano), so it is what it is

[drurb]

I think your best bet would be scour the ads for a used ply bass of decent quality. You might get lucky and get away for under $1000. Jsn is quite right that if you actually want to make music with it, then a BSO will not do.

There are reports here of folks who purchased really low-end basses ($700 or so) and who were willing and able to work on them to get them to be playable. While they seem to have ended up with serviceable instruments, that came with a fair amount of sweat equity.

As for painting a bass, well... yeah, it makes me cringe but I realize there's a genre where that seems to be appropriate so I'm going with "live and let live" on that one.

[Steve Swan]

Depending on where you live, craigslist postings can get you a used Cremona or Palatino for $3-400. They are thicker than flies where I live because the distributors are local.

[PaulCannon]

If you must paint it, please be sure you aren't ruining something of historical or musical interest. On the off chance you happen upon a real instrument for cheap (it happens), show it to a luthier before you do anything to it. A finely made instrument is meant to outlive you.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

IMHO/IME any CCB (Cheap Chinese Bass/Crappy Chinese Bass/... ) will do in Your intended application.

As will a "coffin bass".

If You can take advantage of someone elses "mistake", even better and cheaper.

Entertainment is a wonderful thing, and it usually involves more trickery than actual talent .

Regards
Sam

[Gear_Junky]

very helpful comments! I promise you all that I won't be defacing an actual instrument of value. I've actually seen unfinished basses on eBay (around $500) for DIY painting (I think the necks were finished).